The Ember Hall's dormitory wing hummed with the low, ever-present warmth of magic-infused stone. Flames danced gently in iron sconces along the crimson corridors, casting flickering shadows as students moved about—some settling in, others already boasting about their future elemental triumphs.
Ashen padded quietly down the hallway, his steps nearly soundless on the heated floor. His room was on the third level, tucked near the outer wall overlooking the southern cliffs. It was small, simple—stone walls, a narrow bed, a chest for belongings, and a writing desk beneath a tall window.
But it was private. Quiet. He liked that.
Setting his bag down, Ashen removed his cloak and laid it carefully on the edge of the bed. His fingers brushed the fire-red gemstone on the clasp. A symbol of his "dual" affinity.
Fire and Wind. That was what he had allowed them to see.
But within him, the truth still churned. Every element, every strand of power, waited beneath the surface—bound by layers of mental seals. Old habits from a time when a single slip could shatter a kingdom.
He leaned on the desk, gazing out the window. The sky was beginning to darken, and the distant clouds over the mountains shimmered with lightning. Stormhall flickered faintly on the horizon—home to the rarest elemental students.
His thoughts wandered to Kaelin.
He knew she'd settle in fine. She was bright, energetic, and disarming. But he couldn't let her get too close.
Not until he understood why he was truly back.
Not until he knew what this world had become in his absence.
A knock on the door broke his focus.
Ashen turned. "Come in."
The door opened to reveal a lean, older man in long red robes with flame embroidery curling up the sleeves. His salt-and-ember hair was tied back in a loose tail, and he carried a thick book tucked under one arm.
"Storme, is it?" the man asked, stepping inside without waiting for permission.
"Yes," Ashen said calmly. "And you are?"
The man chuckled, closing the door behind him. "Magister Darian Vosk. I'm your elemental theory instructor. And more importantly, your house mentor for Ember Hall."
Ashen nodded slowly. "Understood."
Vosk gave him a long, assessing look. "You're… not what I expected."
Ashen tilted his head. "What did you expect?"
Vosk smiled crookedly. "Someone who burned brighter. Fire students usually walk in with their hair singed or their ego on fire. You seem… more composed."
"I was raised well," Ashen replied.
"Hm. We'll see."
The magister moved to the window, glancing out at the academy grounds.
"Fire and Wind," Vosk murmured. "A combination known for recklessness. Speed and destruction. But your report says you handled your Awakening with control."
Ashen said nothing.
Vosk turned, leaning back against the windowsill. "There are students who seek power to prove themselves. Others who seek it to protect. And some, very rare, who wield it like they've done it all before."
Their eyes met.
Ashen didn't flinch. "Which do you prefer?"
Vosk smirked. "I prefer the ones who don't get themselves killed."
He tossed the book onto the bed. "Elemental Foundations. First week's reading. Your classes begin tomorrow at second bell. You'll find a copy of your schedule inside."
Ashen nodded. "Thank you."
"One more thing." Vosk stepped closer, dropping his voice slightly. "I don't know who you were before. But I've seen boys like you—quiet, sharp, holding too much back."
Ashen didn't respond.
Vosk tapped his temple. "Control is good. But don't let it smother you. The elements don't like cages."
With that, he turned and walked out, the door closing softly behind him.
Ashen stood still for a long moment, the firelight flickering across his face.
---
Later that evening, after unpacking, he wandered the Ember Hall grounds. The central courtyard blazed with controlled bonfires, around which students sparred using low-level elemental spells. One boy conjured a small arc of flame in his palm and hurled it at a moving target. Another girl summoned a miniature whirlwind, guiding it to carry pebbles across a ringed arena.
Ashen watched, unnoticed, blending into the shadows at the edge of the courtyard. He noted movements, mistakes, overconfidence. Most students barely understood the forces they wielded.
He sat on a stone bench beneath a lantern tree—a rare species that glowed with soft orange orbs—and closed his eyes, focusing inward.
There it was.
The fire, yes.
The wind.
But also—the cold touch of ice, the strength of stone, the pulse of nature, the hum of lightning, the shimmer of light, the pull of shadow… and beneath it all, the silence of the Void.
He could feel them. Hear them whispering like old friends.
> You were once the Balance. You are still the Storm.
Ashen opened his eyes.
Footsteps approached.
A familiar voice broke the quiet. "Brooding already? You're such a cliché."
He turned to find Kaelin standing there, arms crossed, eyes sparkling. She wore her green Gale Hall cloak and had a leaf caught in her hair.
He gave her a small smile. "Didn't think I'd see you tonight."
"Had to sneak out before curfew. Didn't want to miss your dramatic sulking session."
"I'm not sulking."
She grinned. "Whatever you say, your broody highness."
Ashen arched a brow. "Highness?"
Kaelin blinked, then laughed awkwardly. "Just a joke. You act so regal sometimes, it's like you were born on a throne."
Ashen's smile faded briefly, but he looked away before she could notice.
Kaelin flopped onto the bench beside him.
"I met my roommate," she said. "She snores like a boar and smells like wet moss. But she's got ice affinity, so she's probably just earthy."
Ashen chuckled softly. "You'll survive."
They sat in silence for a while, watching firelight flicker across the stone walls.
Kaelin nudged him. "You're different, you know."
He glanced at her. "How so?"
"Most people are either excited or scared. But you… you're like someone who's already been through it all."
Ashen didn't reply.
She added, quieter this time, "It's kind of mysterious. Makes you interesting."
Ashen turned to her fully, meeting her gaze.
"I've made mistakes before," he said. "This time, I don't want to."
Kaelin frowned slightly. "Before?"
Ashen stood. "It's late. You should go."
Kaelin stared at him for a beat longer, then sighed. "Fine. But don't think I won't dig into that cryptic statement tomorrow."
As she turned to leave, Ashen spoke again.
"Kaelin."
She paused, looking back.
"Thanks… for checking in."
She smiled gently. "Don't make it a habit. You'll spoil me."
Then she vanished into the shadows, her laughter echoing softly through the night.
Ashen remained alone beneath the lantern tree, staring up at the moonlit towers of the academy.
This world was not the one he had left behind.
But he would learn its rules, master its games, and forge his path anew.
The echoes of the past were rising.
And this time, he would be ready.